Adam Kinnaird once saved pucks as a goalie on the University of Alberta’s hockey team. Now he’s saving lives.
He manages a surgical practice, runs global clinical research trials for prostate cancer, applies for grant funding, advocates for his patients, mentors students, plays ball hockey and even carves out time for his son, Felix, to come to the clinic to work with him.
The work his team is doing has changed the way prostate cancer is diagnosed with more efficient, accessible imaging. It uses micro ultrasound to identify prostate cancer. His team is trying to determine if it is as good as MRI in identifying prostate cancer. This has led to new policy and outcomes for Alberta patients, with less-invasive biopsies and the ability to deliver more efficient care to more patients — including those who don’t live close to major hospitals.
“Every man is at risk every year,” he says, describing the disadvantage patients outside major cities have, which is in part due to Canada’s geography. “Canada’s health care should be portable.”
For Kinnaird, it’s about the people involved. “I can’t believe how altruistic Albertans can be with their willingness to participate in research.”
This article appears in the Nov/Dec 2024 issue of Edify
